The Voice of the Pause
Addressing the healthcare disparities Black women face during perimenopause and menopause.
Perimenopause and menopause are natural transitions that nearly every woman will experience. Yet for many women, including myself, the journey begins with confusion, fear, and unanswered questions.
I remember knowing that something was wrong with my body, but I had no idea what perimenopause was. I was diagnosed with estrogen dominance after experiencing heavy bleeding, abdominal pain, and painful breasts. My doctor prescribed additional estrogen, believing it would help. Instead, my symptoms worsened.
I began suffering from intense night sweats that soaked my bedsheets, forcing me to sleep on towels. I felt exhausted, frustrated, and embarrassed. At times, I did not even want my husband to touch me because I no longer felt comfortable in my own body.
It was only when I took responsibility for my health and sought additional medical opinions that I finally received the help I needed. Unfortunately, my story is not unique. Many women spend years being misdiagnosed, dismissed, or left without answers during the perimenopausal and menopausal transition.
Historically, Research on Women’s Health Has Lagged Behind
For decades, many medical studies were based primarily on male models of health and disease, leaving significant gaps in understanding how women experience hormonal changes throughout life. As a result, symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause were often misunderstood, minimized, or overlooked.
Fortunately, awareness is growing. Celebrities, healthcare advocates, and researchers have helped bring menopause into the public conversation, reducing stigma and encouraging women to seek support. New research is accelerating, and discussions about menopause in healthcare, workplaces, and public policy are beginning to create meaningful change. However, more physician education and specialized training are still needed to close the healthcare gap.
However, for Black women, these challenges are often greater.
Research shows that Black women typically enter perimenopause nearly a year earlier than White women and often experience more severe symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes. These challenges can increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
The Black Women’s Health Imperative
The Black Women’s Health Imperative conducted one of the largest surveys examining the menopause experiences of Black women. More than 1,500 Black women between the ages of 30 and 65 participated. The findings revealed significant gaps in care and support:
- 52% did not know which medical recommendations to follow.
- 46% lacked adequate information to manage symptoms.
- 43% experienced discrimination or unfair treatment when seeking healthcare.
- 42% struggled with depression during this stage of life.
These findings highlight an important reality: even educated, insured, and professionally successful women often struggle to find reliable information and quality care during menopause.
In 2025, researchers Brandy Harris Wallace and Tamara A. Baker published a policy essay in The Lancet, calling for menopause research and healthcare policies that better reflect the lived experiences of Black women. Their message was clear: women’s voices, cultural experiences, and healthcare needs must be heard and respected.
As an Influential woman, I would like to use this platform to raise visibility and awareness for women’s health. I believe every woman deserves access to accurate information, compassionate care, and evidence-based treatment. No woman should be neglected, dismissed, or discriminated against because of her ethnicity, background, or stage of life.
The future of women’s health depends on continued research, better physician training, and a commitment to ensuring that every woman receives the comprehensive care she deserves.
